Every dog really does have his day. Or in this case, hers. Roselle, the guide dog who led her blind master safely down 78 flights of stairs following the 9/11 attacks on the World Trade Center, has been named the top American Hero Dog at the world’s first "American Humane Association Hero Dog Awards"™, presented by cesar® canine cuisine. Roselle, who passed away this summer, was honored at the Hero Dog Awards with her master, Michael Hingson, and Guide Dog Africa.

Each of the eight finalists received $5,000 to be donated to one of American Humane Association’s charity partners, which include The Pine Street Foundation, Guide Dogs for the Blind, Dogs for the Deaf, National Fire Dog Monument, U.S. War Dog Association, National Search Dog Alliance, Canine Companions for Independence, and Paws & Effect. Roselle won an additional $10,000 for Guide Dogs for the Blind.

The 400,000 public votes that were cast helped reach the charitable goal of a $200,000 donation by cesar® canine cuisine to American Humane Association, which will support therapy dogs to continue helping people in need across America. (Source: Hero Dog Awards)

The winner is determined by a combination of more than 1 million votes cast by the public and by a celebrity panel that included entertainers Whoopi Goldberg and Kristin Chenoweth as well as country singing star Miranda Lambert.